SHEfinds / beauty / Once And For All, These Are The Best Vitamins For Your Hair, Skin & Nails That Actually Work

Once And For All, These Are The Best Vitamins For Your Hair, Skin & Nails That Actually Work

shefinds | beauty

In terms of the beauty trifecta of hair, skin and nails, it seems like at least one area is always lacking. You might have thick, luscious, Rapunzel-esque hair, but brittle nails or acne-prone skin. Unfortunately, no one’s lucky enough to have all three beauty departments covered. If you do, props to your good genes and please share your secrets. As for the rest of us, there’s only so many products we can test out that promise to enhance our beauty before we get discouraged and tired of throwing away money. Let’s face it, a lot of beauty supplements actually aren’t worth the hype, no matter how much the label boasts. So, what’s a girl to do in the name of better hair, skin and nails? Cue vitamins. Believe it or not, these 3 vitamins can help you achieve the beauty goals you’ve always dreamed of. The best way to enhance your au natural beauty is to start from within.

1) Vitamin C. For healthy skin that looks like you’re aging backwards, turn to vitamin C. According to Health Line, this multipurpose vitamin helps produce collagen, which prevents aging, and can even fight off cancer with powerful antioxidants. Getting enough vitamin C can help repair any dry or damaged skin, while also defending your skin against its sworn enemy—wrinkles. If you don’t think you’re getting enough vitamin C, make guzzling a tall glass of OJ part of your breakfast routine, or buy supplements. Your complexion will thank you for it.

2) Vitamin B12. One too many acrylic or gel manicures taking a toll on your nails? Get your fingertips back on track with a little help from vitamin B12. Florida-based dermatologist Tamara Lior, MD, told Total Beauty that a lack of B12 can lead to dark, dry nails, which no one wants to see. That’s what dark nail polish is for, anyway. Live Strong also concurs that a lack of vitamin B12 can cause unpleasant fingernail changes, but with one caveat—adding B12 to your diet might only help your nail health if you’ve been deficient. Either way, you should still maintain a healthy diet, and get your B12 fix through fish, meat and eggs.

3) Vitamin A. Several vitamins can actually help get your hair in tip-top shape, but vitamin A definitely takes the cake with its cocktail list of hair benefits. Dermatologist Cybele Fishman, MD, told Fitness Magazine that vitamin A produces oils that maintain an overall healthy scalp. It also prevents dry hair and dandruff, and protects against every woman’s biggest fear—hair loss. The miracle-working vitamin does so by regulating the production of retinoic acid. Bonus—you can reap some major skin benefits from this vitamin, as well. Research from the American Academy of Dermatology found that vitamin A can treat and prevent certain skin conditions. This natural supplement gets an “A” in our book. Dr. Fishman says that every single cell in your body needs vitamin A, so consider this your most important dietary supplement. However, everything must be taken in moderation, and she warns that consuming too much vitamin A can actually do more harm than good for your hair.